Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1887-10-07
Doctor DWire.
BY X. ALTA LILLY,

ana feel strong desire TO be safely
housed out of its loathsome embrace.
Few, if any, save on special business
which could not bear delay. would have
cared to be abroad; and DR.. Dorien
Dwire. when his houSekeeper, Betty,
took away the tea, drew his chair
nearer the fire burning in the study
crate with the air of man who
feels he may enjoy his evening uninter-
rupted.
Dr. Dwire was slightly over middle
height; his figure was firmly but slen-
aerly formed; his square shoulders and
line carriage proved the strength of
chest and manliness of spirit. His
complexion was fair, his eyes full, of q
blue-gray color, with bold, straight,
yet singularly gentle outlook. His age
was somewhere about twenty-eight.
but the hair thrown off the white fore
head had many silver streaks in ii,
which, however, the most careless OBJ
server would have seen, had he looked
at the face beneath the hand of Time
had not produced.
DIR. Dw.re was quite young, COM
paratively speaking; but: he had liv-
.dh is life, loved his love, and
experienced a sharp, bitter trouble.
past and over now, which had left its
imprint on his life as intellectually as
the impression of some preadamite
birds tread on the soft clay that has
hardened into stone. But DR.. Dwire's
nature was not stony. Far from it.
His hear twas the gentlest, kindest, man
could possess.
Seated 10y his glowing study fire, he
soon had forgotten the outer world as
perfectly as most of the outer world
forgot him. The wind tossed the trees
outside the rambling, old red brick
house. and shook the windows of the
study almost vindictively. Is if to inter-
rupt the thinker within. But the doe
Tor hardly heard. being in spirit far
away in the past-that past which had
TO do with his mothers pretty govern
sss, Lydia Legion. There were no gray
hairs in Dorien DwIre's closely cut,
dark curls then. His cheek bore the
hue of health, his dark eyes sparkled
with the happiness reciprocated love
alone can give.
1t all came back to him as if it had
been only yesterday beautiful Lydia
seated in his mothers parlor. having
brought her young charge little
girls, now away at boarding-school-
on visit to that lady; and Dorien, see
ng her for the first time, and being
surprised by her great beauty, was un-
able to take his eyes from her.
He signs now, as he remembers his
ooyish enthusiasm.
II was happy then. so happy! Poor
TOOL ! So happy for the time being in
the society of the woman | loved with
such deep devotion, such perfect faith
and trust" he murmered bitterly. But
is one ever supremacy happy without
lhe consciousness Of comm pain p
Suddenly there had been change.
Allen Courtney, an artist, came TO stay
awhile in the eighborhool--a man of
aristocratic birth, handsome, and Of
small principle. He had called at the
Doctors once or twice. and had seen
Lydia.
From that hour the joyous light had
slowly faded from Dorion Dwire's face,
for he began to know what jealousy is,
and to doubt the love that Lydia had
professed for him. And doubt indul-
ged soon became doubt realized How
could he help doubling, when he noted
the little pleasure his presence gave
her-how lent and ljstless she grew
in his society?
This fellow has bewitched her with
his fine talk of poetry and art" he
thought, sadly. "When he is gone she
will be my own Lydia again. She is
20 young and merry, no wonder his
conversation pleases her.
A week later. Allan Courtney left for
his home abroad. The following day
all how well he remembered it! Bet
ty brought h m a letter from Lydia
Legion. She had gone! She express
ed much regret, but found on exam in
ING her heart that see d ID not love him
with the affection wife should feel
for her husband; and their union, in
that case could bring happiness to
neither. She considered it was wisest,
kindest. that all should be over be-
tween them.
Sonnet she concluded, cit
seems as IL do not know my mind. l
feel that should not wed you; but oh!
Dorien. weak and foolish as / have
been, think that even you would pity
me if you did but know how desperately
have struggled to do right 1t is best
tor both that should 90 away. That
you will ever forgive me-that you will
never look on my face again. do not
expect Good-by Dorien. Try not to
,h;nL too bardlv ~ vour unhanpy